Thinking Activity: Unit 1: History of English Literature: Chaucer to Shakespeare

 This blog is based upon Thinking Task assigned by Dilip Sir.

Q.1 . Rewriting the Last Monologue of Doctor Faustus with Insights from Bhagat Singh’s Arguments Reflect on the concluding monologue of Marlowe’s ' incorporating insights from Bhagat Singh’s essay "Why I am an Atheist". Consider how Singh’s perspectives on freedom, oppression, and revolutionary thought can offer new dimensions to Faustus’s final. 

Answer:

 To rewrite the concluding monologue of Christopher Marlowe’s 'Doctor Faustus' with insights from Bhagat Singh’s essay "Why I Am an Atheist," we can focus on the themes of freedom, oppression, and revolutionary thought. In the original monologue, Faustus is filled with regret and fear as he faces eternal damnation for his pact with the devil. Bhagat Singh’s views, however, are rooted in a defiance of oppressive systems, a rejection of fear, and a commitment to freedom, even in the face of death. Here’s how the monologue might be reimagined.

 While Marlowe's Faustus faces eternal damnation for his pact with the devil, Bhagat Singh, in his essay, critiques blind faith and advocates for intellectual freedom and social justice.

 Original Context:

In the original monologue, Faustus laments his impending doom, expressing regret for his choices, fear of eternal damnation, and longing for redemption. He pleads for time to stop, the stars to move backwards, and for divine intervention to save his soul.

 Incorporating Bhagat Singh’s Insights:

Freedom:

Singh’s emphasis on intellectual freedom contrasts sharply with Faustus’s realization of his enslavement to Lucifer. While Faustus seeks to escape the consequences of his choices, Singh’s arguments might inspire a Faustus who embraces responsibility and seeks to liberate himself through knowledge and resistance rather than submission and fear.

Oppression:

 Singh’s critique of oppressive systems might lead to a reimagined Faustus who recognizes his pact with Lucifer as a metaphorical reflection of human subjugation under tyrannical forces. Instead of despairing over his fate, this Faustus might acknowledge how he allowed himself to be oppressed by his desires and misguided ambitions.

Revolutionary Thought:

 Instead of begging for divine intervention, a Faustus influenced by Bhagat Singh could reject the very structures that demand his submission. He might denounce the moral and spiritual authorities that impose fear and instead embrace a defiant stance, seeking freedom through self-awareness and rebellion against the forces that bind him.

Rewritten Monologue:

"Ah, Faustus, now thou must be wise,  

Not by the fear of eternal flame,  

But by the fire of reason that shall cleanse the mind.  

Why dost thou cry out for time to halt,  

For heavens to fold their wings,  

When it is in thy power to rise above these chains?  

Didst thou not seek knowledge, freedom, power?  

Yet in thy pursuit, thou becamest a slave,  

Not to Lucifer, but to the weakness of thine own spirit.

O souls of the oppressed, hear me!  

Not in prayers and supplications is freedom found,  

But in the breaking of these invisible bonds,  

In the rebellion against the tyranny of the mind.  

What are these gods and devils but constructs,  

That have kept us blind, docile, submissive?

Let Faustus no longer cry for mercy  

From a heaven that has closed its ears.  

Let him rise, let him embrace  

The truth that no god or devil can offer—  

That liberty is in the mind that dares to question,  

To challenge, to overthrow the fear of the unknown.

Time, do not stop; stars, do not retreat!  

For I, Faustus, in this final hour,  

Shall find my freedom not in forgiveness,  

But in the defiance of all that seeks to oppress me.  

Let me burn, if I must,  

But let it be with the fire of truth,  

A blaze that no hell can quench,  

For in my destruction, I shall be free!"

This rewritten monologue reflects a Faustus who, instead of succumbing to despair, finds a revolutionary strength inspired by Bhagat Singh’s arguments. It portrays a Faustus who sees beyond the fear of damnation and embraces the pursuit of intellectual freedom, even in the face of his own destruction.

Conclusion :

In this version of Faustus's monologue, we see a shift from the original narrative of fear and regret to one of defiance and empowerment. Faustus, inspired by Bhagat Singh’s arguments, rejects the fear of divine retribution and instead embraces the freedom to think and act for himself, even if it leads to eternal damnation. This monologue transforms Faustus into a revolutionary figure, one who challenges the very foundations of the power structures that seek to control him, and who ultimately finds liberation in his own resistance.

Thank you.